The Artist Club announces an 11-day cultural festival in Dhaka, featuring French opera artists, Bangladeshi folk music and a nationwide young painters' competition from November 11–21, 2026.
DHAKA, October 26, 2026: Bangladesh is set to witness its first fusion of Bangladeshi and French opera on November 21, as The Artist Club Ltd. announced an 11-day cultural festival to mark its first anniversary.
The festival, scheduled for November 11–21, will feature an ethnic and folk music festival, a nationwide young painters' competition and a grand closing ceremony showcasing a fusion of Bangladeshi and French opera.
The announcement was made at a press briefing at Pearl Hall, Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, on Monday, attended by cultural personalities and representatives of the French Embassy in Bangladesh.
Renowned French opera singer Véronique Pain and pianist Fabrice Maître are expected to perform in Dhaka for the first time at the closing ceremony on November 21 at the hotel's Grand Ballroom. The programme will be held under the patronage of French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, with support from the French Embassy.
Baptiste Lebret, cultural attaché at the French Embassy, reaffirmed the embassy's support for the event, highlighting its commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy and promoting artistic exchanges between France and Bangladesh.
The festival's chief coordinator, Professor Dr A H M Mustafizur Rahman, said the anniversary programme would provide a platform for emerging artists while celebrating Bangladesh's diverse cultural heritage and encouraging international artistic collaboration.
He said The Artist Club began its journey three years ago with the aim of nurturing young talent and officially received registration in 2025. Since then, it has organised more than 200 episodes of its signature Friday Musical Performance programme.
A 10-day Ethnic and Folk Music Festival will run from November 11 to 20 in collaboration with Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.
The programme will showcase Bangladesh's diverse musical traditions, including Baul, Bhatiyali, Bhawaiya, Gambhira, Lalon and Hason Raja, alongside the cultural music of Manipuri, Chakma, Marma, Santal and Hajong communities.
Organisers said the initiative aims to celebrate the country's musical heritage and provide greater visibility to traditional and ethnic art forms.
The anniversary celebrations will also feature the Atelier Award: Young Painters of Tomorrow, a nationwide art competition open to artists aged 20–35, including university students, art college students and freelance painters.
The competition aims to identify promising young artists and support the development of the next generation of Bangladeshi painters.
Sujit Mustafa, renowned singer and president of The Artist Club Ltd., expressed gratitude to the French Embassy, Hotel InterContinental Dhaka and the Dhaka University Cultural Foundation (DUCF) for supporting the anniversary celebrations.
He called on corporate organisations, cultural institutions and individual patrons to extend greater support to initiatives that promote artistic development and international cultural exchanges.
The press briefing was attended by Professor Dr A H M Mustafizur Rahman, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy Frédéric Inza, singer Mahfuzar Rahman representing DUCF, and Olivier Loreaux, director of food and beverage at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, among others.
The organisers said the 11-day celebration would bring together local and international artists, promote Bangladesh's cultural diversity and create new opportunities for artistic collaboration between Bangladesh and France.
SEO keywords: French opera in Bangladesh, Bangladesh-France cultural relations, The Artist Club anniversary, Véronique Pain, Fabrice Maître, Dhaka cultural festival 2026, ethnic and folk music festival, young painters competition.
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